Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 22642 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Application, for what reason (a) Equality Impact Assessments and (b) Environmental Principles Assessments are not undertaken on decisions to call-in planning applications.

A decision on whether or not to call in a planning application is a matter of jurisdiction and does not deal with the merits of the case.The decision to call in these applications was made on the basis of the policy set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 26 October 2012.The published propriety guidance relates particularly to recovered appeals and called in decisions, but the guidance is clear that the key propriety principles also apply to decisions on other planning matters.

Communities and Local Government, whether national security is a material planning consideration.

Paragraph 102 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out how planning policies and decisions should promote public safety and take into account wider security and defence requirements. Each case is considered on their own merits.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the proposal from Slough Borough council to become part of the administrative local government boundaries of Greater London; and what role the Local Government Boundary Commission for England has in such a decision.

No proposal has been received from Slough Borough Council to become part of the administrative local government boundaries of Greater London. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) can conduct reviews of administrative boundaries such as the external boundaries of local authorities. This process is referred to as a Principal Area Boundary Review (PABR). Under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 the LGBCE is able to undertake PABR at the request of a local authority, on its own initiative or at the request of the Secretary of State. The LGBCE cannot be required by the Secretary of State to undertake a PABR as the LGBCE is independent of Government and accountable to Parliament through the Speakers Committee.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 16551 on Arden Strategies: Special Advisers, whether special advisers have had meetings with Arden Strategies that are not (a) in scope of transparency requirements on reporting special advisers’ meetings with senior media executives, (b) readily available and (c) scheduled for future publication since 4 July 2024.

In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of external meetings held by Special Advisers will be published in line with the requirements set out in guidance here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to table 1b of Homes England's report entitled 2016 to 2021 Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme summary: end of March 2021, published in December 2021, what the average funding per unit of affordable housing was in each region for an (a) affordable home ownership home, (b) affordable rent home and (c) social rent home.

The Department delegates delivery of the Affordable Homes Programme to Homes England outside London and to the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London. The government agrees budgets and targets with both agencies to deliver the programme’s overall targets for additional homes and specific types of tenure, as well as types of home, including those built using of Modern Methods of Construction and Supported Housing.In awarding contracts under the programme Homes England and the GLA assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis. In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme. The most recent publication, with data reflecting grant allocations to the end of March 2023, can be found on gov.uk here

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has had discussions with (a) the Planning Inspectorate and (b) Lowick communications consultancy on the proposed new Chinese Embassy.

Officials within the Department have held routine discussions with the Planning Inspectorate regarding procedural matters. However, these did not relate to the merits of the case.There have been no such discussions between this Department and Lowick with regard to the proposed new Chinese Embassy.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 26559 on Property Development: Environmental Protection, what her planned timeline is for the (a) consultation on and (b) implementation of environmental outcome reports.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 31479 on 26 February 2025.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 25922 on Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings: Energy, which of the policies set out in the cross-government review of the barriers to adapt and retrofit listed buildings and homes in conservation areas, published on 3 January 2024, which relate to her Department’s remit and have not yet been implemented remain her policy to implement; and which of policies she does not plan to implement.

This government is developing its approach to planning policy in respect of heritage and will consider the unimplemented actions identified in the review in question as part of that work.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 26848 on Local Government Finance, what the proportional change in Government funding will be excluding council tax and in real terms for each local authority between 2024-25 and 2025-26.

The Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government. This is a 6.8% cash terms increase or 4.3% real terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. Taken together, the additional funding announced by the Chancellor at the Autumn Budget and through the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement will provide over £5 billion of new funding for local services over and above local council tax. Core Spending Power measures the core revenue funding available for local authority services through the local government finance settlement. Core Spending Power is the government’s chosen measure of resources because it gives a consistent measure of resources available to any local authority across revenue grant funding made available through the settlement, locally retained business rates and council tax. Further information about each local authority’s core spending power can be accessed using the following links: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-information-table-for-local-authorities-final-local-government-finance-settlement-2025-to-2026 and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/core-spending-power-table-final-local-government-finance-settlement-2025-to-2026.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025, to Question 23790, on Eden Project: Morecambe, whether the allocated funding will be available from Quarter one of 2026.

The final full business case for the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Round 2 project “Eden Project North” was received by the department on the 23 September 2024. A memorandum of understanding was issued to Lancaster City Council on the 18 November 2024 and signed by the department on the 19 November 2024.It is expected that this project will have full match funding of £50 million making the total LUF project cost £100 million.I can confirm that all allocated funding will be available from Quarter one of 2026.The latest delivery milestones timetable is for each milestones including dates is set out below. Full design stage – (RIBA 2-4) March 25 - October 26 Initial enabling works during design - August 2025 - November 2025Main site enabling works commences - March 2026 - July 2026Main construction commences - March 2026 - July 2028 Main Construction Practical Completion – July 2028 - August 2028Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition – May 2028 - October 2028

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 27548 on Cabinet office: Public Appointments and with reference to the his Department's Non-Executive Board Member declaration of interests process, published on 28 November 2024, whether a required declaration of previous significant political activity under paragraph 9.2 of the Governance Code on Public Appointments in the last five years prior to taking up a public appointment is deemed to be a (a) declarable interest and (b) an interest which must be published under the Non-Executive Board Member declaration of interests regime; and for what period of time a declaration of pre-appointment political activity would be retained on the bi-annual NED declaration record.

With reference to the guidance on declarations of interests published on 28 November 2024, political activity is a declarable interest, and any current political activity declared by a Non-Executive Board Member will be published on the online register of interests. This is consistent with paragraphs 3.11 – 3.15 of the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Governance Code on Public Appointments is separate guidance and its scope is limited to the appointments process. Paragraph 9.2 applies to political activity of candidates which may be explored further by the Advisory Assessment Panel, and if successful will be made public as part of the appointments process. As this is a separate process to the management of Non-Executive Board Members’ interests outlined above, previous political activity is not retained on the departmental register of interests.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 23790 on Eden Project: Morecambe, when the full business case was (a) submitted to and (b) confirmed by her Department.

The final full business case for the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Round 2 project “Eden Project North” was received by the department on the 23 September 2024. A memorandum of understanding was issued to Lancaster City Council on the 18 November 2024 and signed by the department on the 19 November 2024.It is expected that this project will have full match funding of £50 million making the total LUF project cost £100 million.I can confirm that all allocated funding will be available from Quarter one of 2026.The latest delivery milestones timetable is for each milestones including dates is set out below. Full design stage – (RIBA 2-4) March 25 - October 26 Initial enabling works during design - August 2025 - November 2025Main site enabling works commences - March 2026 - July 2026Main construction commences - March 2026 - July 2028 Main Construction Practical Completion – July 2028 - August 2028Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition – May 2028 - October 2028

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025, to Question 23789, on Eden Project: Morecambe, what the latest delivery milestones timetable is for each milestone including dates.

The final full business case for the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Round 2 project “Eden Project North” was received by the department on the 23 September 2024. A memorandum of understanding was issued to Lancaster City Council on the 18 November 2024 and signed by the department on the 19 November 2024.It is expected that this project will have full match funding of £50 million making the total LUF project cost £100 million.I can confirm that all allocated funding will be available from Quarter one of 2026.The latest delivery milestones timetable is for each milestones including dates is set out below. Full design stage – (RIBA 2-4) March 25 - October 26 Initial enabling works during design - August 2025 - November 2025Main site enabling works commences - March 2026 - July 2026Main construction commences - March 2026 - July 2028 Main Construction Practical Completion – July 2028 - August 2028Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition – May 2028 - October 2028

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with Lowick on the proposed new Chinese Embassy.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is not aware of any discussions between its staff and Lowick on the proposed new Chinese Embassy.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025, to Question 23791, on Eden Project: Morecambe, whether the project will have full match funding of £50 million.

The final full business case for the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Round 2 project “Eden Project North” was received by the department on the 23 September 2024. A memorandum of understanding was issued to Lancaster City Council on the 18 November 2024 and signed by the department on the 19 November 2024.It is expected that this project will have full match funding of £50 million making the total LUF project cost £100 million.I can confirm that all allocated funding will be available from Quarter one of 2026.The latest delivery milestones timetable is for each milestones including dates is set out below. Full design stage – (RIBA 2-4) March 25 - October 26 Initial enabling works during design - August 2025 - November 2025Main site enabling works commences - March 2026 - July 2026Main construction commences - March 2026 - July 2028 Main Construction Practical Completion – July 2028 - August 2028Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition – May 2028 - October 2028

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025, to Question 23791, on Eden Project: Morecambe, what the total cost of the project is.

The final full business case for the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Round 2 project “Eden Project North” was received by the department on the 23 September 2024. A memorandum of understanding was issued to Lancaster City Council on the 18 November 2024 and signed by the department on the 19 November 2024.It is expected that this project will have full match funding of £50 million making the total LUF project cost £100 million.I can confirm that all allocated funding will be available from Quarter one of 2026.The latest delivery milestones timetable is for each milestones including dates is set out below. Full design stage – (RIBA 2-4) March 25 - October 26 Initial enabling works during design - August 2025 - November 2025Main site enabling works commences - March 2026 - July 2026Main construction commences - March 2026 - July 2028 Main Construction Practical Completion – July 2028 - August 2028Operational Readiness, Activation and Transition – May 2028 - October 2028

Whether 10 Downing Street has had communications with the company Lowick on the proposed new Chinese Embassy.

The decision to call in the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy was made by the Deputy Prime Minister, in line with current policy on call-in. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk, and relevant meetings are declared in the Special Advisor transparency publications in line with longstanding process.

Communities and Local Government, whether the next round of the Affordable Housing Programme will include provision for the housing needs of older people given the pace of demographic change; and if she will implement the recommendation to expand provision of the Older People’s Shared Ownership scheme set out within the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population, published on 26 November 2024.

The government will set out details of future investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent.The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29617 on Heathrow Airport, whether she plans to have a vote in Parliament on the revised Airports National Policy Statement.

The Government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement in line with the requirements of the Planning Act 2008. When conducting the review, the Secretary of State will comply with the consultation, publicity and parliamentary requirements of the Planning Act 2008.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Statement of 29 January 2025, HCWS396, on Growth Corridor Strategy, if she will place the list the proposed locations of each of the 18 submissions for large-scale new developments within the Oxford-Cambridge corridor.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report this summer.The Taskforce will not be sharing information about its locations evidence base prior to publication of the final report.